The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia has issued a strong call to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to take bold and uncompromising action against corruption, warning that inconsistent responses to major cases risk eroding public trust and weakening Liberia’s governance system.
Addressing the media Tuesday in Monrovia, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen sharply criticized what he described as a pattern of leniency in dealing with allegations involving senior officials.
Miamen stressed that the credibility of the government’s anti-corruption drive depends on swift, transparent, and impartial enforcement of the law.
At the center of CENTAL’s concern is the case of former Ombudsman Chairperson Finley Y. Karngar, who was accused in an investigative report of extorting over US$2,000 from his Special Assistant and soliciting additional benefits.
While President Boakai accepted Karngar’s resignation, Miamen argued that the gravity of the allegations warranted tougher sanctions and a clear public position on the findings.
CENTAL warned that failure to act decisively in such cases sends a dangerous signal, particularly when officials responsible for enforcing the Code of Conduct are themselves implicated in misconduct.
The organization also highlighted the case of Ernest Hughes of the Liberia Airport Authority, who is accused of soliciting a 15 percent kickback tied to the approval of a US$1 million payment to a contractor at Roberts International Airport.
Despite a recommendation from the LAA Board for his suspension and investigation, Hughes was instead granted leave by the Executive Mansion pending a probe.
Miamen described the contrasting approaches in both cases as deeply troubling, noting that selective or uneven enforcement undermines the fight against corruption and damages institutional integrity.
CENTAL is now calling on the government, alongside the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the Ministry of Justice, to pursue thorough and transparent investigations and to regularly update the public on progress and outcomes.
Reaffirming the organization’s stance, Miamen emphasized that no individual should be shielded from accountability, regardless of position or influence.
“We call on the President to act decisively and ensure that all corruption allegations are handled with fairness, transparency, and the full force of the law,” he noted.
